They capture the everyday lives of soldiers serving on the frontline in
Afghanistan and offer insights that civilian press photographers can only dream about.

The talents of amateur and professional Army photographers have been revealed today at the National Army Museum where the winners of the Army Photography Awards 2013 have been announced.

The absorbing images of army life are displayed at the Museum from October 10 until October 22 and include several by Cpl Jamie Peters who deployed to Afghanistan for six months as the photographer for the Army’s Combat Camera Team (CCT).

Cpl Peters scooped the best overall image for his shot, Celtic Warrior (below), of a heavily tattooed soldier of the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (1SCOTS) cleaning his personal weapon after an early morning patrol to an Afghan National Army checkpoint.

Delta Company 1SCOTS, based at Forward Operating Base Shawqat, formed part of the Brigade Advisory Group for Operation HERRICK 17.

The ‘Jocks’ as they are affectionately known are there to Mentor and Advise the Afghan National Army (ANA) in conducting operations within Helmand Province so that security can be transitioned to ANSF control.

Cpl Peters’ also secured the prize for Best Professional Portfolio with a
string of images including Sunset Soldiers (above), which recalls the
iconic silhouette images of soldiers during the First World War as it
captures Sappers from 21 Engineer Regiment working to de-construct a
Hesco Bastion building in Patrol Base Nahidullah.

“Being on the
CCT I was able to see so much of the work that British Troops do in
Afghanistan from patrols and operations in Helmand to the Officer
Academy in Kabul,” says Cpl Peters.

“Everywhere we went there
was a story to tell, from the experiences of the private soldiers right
up to the HQ level of planning and executing the missions."

Cpl
Peters’ tour was all about transition and redeployment and he covered a
large number of base closures and handovers to the Afghan National
Security Forces (ANSF).

“We followed soldiers from the 'front
line' patrolling and closing or handing over their bases all the way
back to Camp Bastion and onto an RAF aircraft home.”

His photos
join a string of images taken by serving soldiers - of servicemen at rest and at work - that
candidly document some otherwise unseen sides of army life.

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